'Read Across America' boosts young readers in SD Unified

It's an annual event: the Read Across America celebrations around the country to celebrate the birthday of San Diegan Ted Geisel, also known as Dr. Seuss. Sponsored by the National Education Association, Read Across America encourages schools to invite celebrities and volunteers to read to kids. Watch slide show.

Walker Elementary gets $1,000 grant to support Read Across America

Walker Elementary School in Mira Mesa has been awarded a $1,000 Read Across America 2014 Event Grant from the National Education Association (NEA) and Renaissance Dental.

The funds will be used to support the Read Across America activities, including the purchase of new books for the school library, as well as funding a student VIP luncheon, t-shirts and Dr. Seuss-themed bookmarks, pencils and other items.

The Read-a-Thon ran Jan. 27 to Feb. 7, part of  Walker’s Read Across America activities. Students at each grade level who read “above and beyond their reading goals” are selected as Student VIPs. On Feb. 26, several community leaders and children’s book authors are visiting classrooms to read books and to talk about how their careers involve literacy. Walker Elementary School’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) volunteers are helping with many of the month-long activities. The school’s Author, Illustrators, and Journalists (AIJ) Academy students are creating a “Read Across America” newsletter and simulated newscast.

Other activities include a Barnes and Noble Booksellers Family Night Fundraiser filled with fun activities and includes book signings with children’s book authors Salina Yoon, Randy Morrison, Shannon Messenger, Cindy Jenson-Elliott, and Henry Herz. Walker’s Student Council has organized a week-long of fun events at the end of February.

"We are extending our school’s participation in The Great Kindness Challenge by having families donate a pie-throwing ticket for students who are unable to afford a ticket," said Principal Rochelle Dawes. "On March 3, the official Read Across America day, we have a school assembly with “Literature Comes to Life” which includes our students and staff."

The Read Across America Committee consists of PTO (Brandi Scholte, Lauree Gammon, and other parent volunteers) and Walker Teachers Grace Nall, Karen Harris, Michel Cazary, Dar Cooper, Sharon Laws, and staff. Walker Elementary School thanks the NEA, Renaissance Dental, CTA, SDEA, Walker PTO, Barnes and Noble, Mission Federal Credit Union, community restaurant businesses, leaders, and partners for their support and encouragement in the celebration of Dr. Seuss’ Birthday and the love of literacy.

‘Read Across America’ continues tradition of honoring Dr. Seuss

Supt. Bill Kowba with Chief of Staff Bernie Rhinerson
at Lindbergh Schweitzer Elementary.

Elementary and K-8 schools across San Diego Unified School District celebrated Read Across America Day last week, honoring the birthday of San Diegan Theodore Geisel – better known as Dr. Seuss – by inviting volunteers, neighbors and local celebrities to read The Cat in the Hat and other Seuss classics to elementary children.

Readers ranged from San Diego Mayor Bob Filner, Board of Education members and district senior staff to members of Engine 18 at the San Diego Fire Department.

At Carver Elementary School in City Heights, Mayor Filner joined the firefighters. Filner, a former San Diego Unified Board of Education member, read his favorite Dr. Seuss book, Thidwick The Big Hearted Moose.

Carver’s student celebrated the week by studying words to describe character’s emotions. In addition they acted out two Seuss classics, The Sneetches and Hooray for Diffendoofer Day, followed by a schoolwide parade where students marched as storybook characters.

Bayview Terrace, Carson, Encanto Academy, Garfield, Hardy, Kimbrough, and Lindbergh Schweitzer were among the other schools with Read Across America celebrations.

At Lindbergh Schweitzer, Supt. Bill Kowba and Chief of Staff Bernie Rhinerson were guest readers. The students presented Kowba with a retirement cake (Kowba retires June 30).

Encanto Elementary School welcomed its community partner, the US Navy Meteorological Command, and other friends of the school for a day of reading.

In its 16th year, Read Across America Day is the nation’s largest reading celebration. More than 45 million people around the country participate annually to highlight the importance of developing a love for reading at an early age. The event is sponsored by the National Education Association with support from more than 50 national nonprofit and association partners. Locally, everyone-from schools to libraries to community centers to churches to hospitals to bookstores-is invited to host local events to celebrate and promote children's reading. 

It's Read Across America Day

San Diego City Council President Tony Young reads
to kindergarteners at Fulton K-8.

Friday, March 2, is the annual celebration of someone who was a great San Diegan and whose work continues to captivate kids and adults around the world. It's Read Across America Day, which is held each year to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Seuss, the late Ted Geisel of La Jolla.

What's special about Read Across America Day is that it brings many new volunteers to our schools to read to kids. Our district is fortunate to have many thousands of volunteeers contributing thousands of hours each year. Events such as Read Across America help to bring in new volunteers as local officials and celebrities sit down with our kids for a few minutes to read them a classic title like Cat in the Hat or Green Eggs and Ham.

We thank everyone who reads to our kids today and all those volunteers who work in our schools each and every day. If you'd like to volunteer, give your neighborhood school -- elementary, middle or high school -- a call. They can use your help.

Fay Elementary Stretches Read Across America Day to a Week

Supt. Bill Kowba reads.

President Obama may have proclaimed March 2 as Read Across America day, but the students and staff at Fay Elementary School are stretching it to a whole week beginning Feb. 27.

Last year, Supt. Bill Kowba joined City Council Member Marti Emerald and nearly 80 others as guest readers for the students. This year, they're hoping for even more as they extend the event.

Read Across America is an annual event that is held on the anniversary of the late Ted Geisel, Dr. Seuss, who was also a San Diego resident. Sponsored by the National Education Association, Read Across America is an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading.

Guest readers throughout the week (last year Fay had more than 80 readers), literary or biographical character dress-up day, Cat in the Hat day, grade level bulletin board contest, library contest, 100th day of school activities, 100 percent attendance challange, and more.

For more information on the program, or to volunteer as reader, contact Eileen Moreno, principal, at (619) 624-2600.